wow! i'm rich!

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Emma rolled her eyes a little. “Please Warren, don’t be sentimental on me. It is unbecoming.” She chasistised in a light tone. Of course, though she had been trying, Emma was still uncomfortable with her own emotions at times. She always had to be in control, including her emotions. She had to be strong enough to carry the burden of others. “Either that or you have relationships you regret.” Emma thought of Sebastian Shaw and the things she had witness while she stood by his side. What he made her do by his side. “You don’t need things to be romantic. Sure, Scott was a romantic but we didn’t exactly get together because he seduced me with his boy scout antics.” Emma humored as she turned to look at Warren. “All the money, looks and powers in the world and we are the ones sidelined. I have the best body money can buy.” Emma muttered. She made no secret of having some cosmetic procedures done in her early days such as when Shaw broke her nose. 

\\

Maybe not everyone would be alright with things being sentimental. Warren can get that way sometimes, his soft side shamelessly coming through in random instances. He doesn’t expect anyone to be comfortable showing those kind of emotions and so he just smirks slightly. “Oops. Sometimes I just can’t help myself.” Warren says this with a playful tone more than anything but then the mention of relationships he might regret have him shrugging his shoulders and showcasing a more serious expression. “Don’t we all have relationships we regret?” The blonde asks while finishing the drink in his hand. “I suppose you’re right. I might not be interested in romantic gestures right now but that doesn’t mean things can’t be casual. I just haven’t found anyone that interests me.”  Warren admits while they exchange another glance at each other. It’s nice for someone to relate with him on some things. “It’s kind of ironic isn’t it? I guess some might say ‘see money can’t buy happiness!’ but what do they know?”

\

Emma stayed quiet as he spoke about the gestures that one would bring to a funeral. “Yes, well, let me know when one of us stay dead. Then perhaps I’d actually make the effort.” Emma muttered in a casual tone before sipping her drink. Though it seemed quite cold to say, the X-Men did have an uncanny way of somehow coming back one way or another so it wasn’t like it wasn’t true. At his question, Emma scoffed, finding it funny. “I don’t look for someone.” She then paused for a moment. “Usually people who are alphas. Someone who can challenge me. Who fits my expenational sexual creativity and appetite.” Emma chuckled at the end of her sentence before she turned a little more serious. “But after my relationship with Scott, I learned it isn’t about power and control over each other. It is about who can make you a better person and vice versa. Scott and I may not be together and I certainly don’t love him like that but he was one of the helping hands who showed me that I can fight to be good and when I’m bad, I’m only as bad as I want to be.” Emma told him softly before looking over to Warren. “If I want someone, I shall have them but I’ve never needed anyone though I suppose even I can admit that a castle can get quite lonely at times.” Emma looked him up and down briefly. “What about you? You are a powerful man. A successful individual and you are not lacking in the looks department. You could have anyone you like. Why don’t you?”

\\

Warren listens to Emma as she talks, maybe not realizing that this would be such a deep question. He doesn’t know what his own type is necessarily, but maybe his lack of searching for a relationship has to do with it. He doesn’t really want anything to do with going on dates but supports his friends doing so. “Wow, I mean I think that’s all excellent things to look for in a partner. You can have someone who inspires you to be a better person while they also should fit into your appetite for sexual creativity. You know, that’s the thing about relationships. Even if they don’t always workout, it teaches you something that will stick around for a while. Life lessons and all of that.” Warren takes a sip of his drink — reflecting on the question. “I could have anyone I wanted but ... I don’t think I believe there’s anyone out there for me because I’ve never felt love in the romantic sense. Not once. Which is fine but I know what you mean, sometimes it can get lonely for me too.”

***

Warren somehow became a kinder man than the world around him. The world hurled prejudice at him and he responded with compassion and a kind of grace that was enviable. Lena was not the same. The Luthor household had taught her to become like a scorpion, striking back with poison, because that was a scorpion’s nature.

Warren was not a scorpion. “Sometimes, I surprise myself,” Lena replied with a hesitant smile as he got out two glasses. A glass of bourbon in her hand did wonders for her nerves, but it didn’t settle the awkwardness between them. “I came to… apologize. Not very Luthor of me. I know.”

\\

Warren is always taught to hold his head up high, try to be better than the ones who critique his decisions. Something his mother taught him at a young age that there’s always a better way to deal with situations that end sour.  She would tell Warren that kindness would be his strength even when it would be difficult to do so. The blonde kept his mindset growing up and can see the good in most people. It’s more difficult when they’re throwing prejudice his way.

He’s surprised to see Lena here but maybe also glad that they would get the chance to repair their friendship after the argument they had. Warren starts to pour some bourbon in the glasses, and slides one over to Lena. He sits back down with the other glass and takes a sip of the liquor. This is awkward and he wishes that it wasn’t. “I didn’t expect to ever see you again but I would like for things not to be weird between us anymore. You’re really here to apologize?” Another sip of the bourbon.

Emma shrugged as Warren commented on how it would be morbid to attend a funeral and enjoy it. “I beg to differ. I’ve saw many a people die and attended their funeral and enjoyed every last minute of it. Well, usually until you get to the God awful buffet. I think some people don’t understand that it is an offer and not a challenge.” Of course only Emma would actually critique a funeral. “Would make sense. We do have an impeccable taste for the finger things in life. Why shouldn’t that apply to people?”

\\

Warren doesn’t particularly enjoy funerals but everyone has their own opinion. He just hasn’t had the best experiences at them. His parents and also his closest friends over the years makes him dread going to them. He doesn’t judge Emma for feeling differently though but it’s really a shame some people only come together when it comes to losing someone. “Some might say that it’s the thought which counts when people bring food to such gatherings.” Warren smiles despite the subject being discussed. “We do have the taste for finer things and I can see that applying to people too. Nobody else quite understands it as we do. What do you look for in someone?”

one word prompts — beach // @aethercal

The beaches of Genosha were beautiful. It was all Scott could think as he stood in the sand, staring out over the water to New York City. Rictor, for all his faults, had done a decent job on the island. It was everything they could have asked for and more, with a diverse terrain and room to grow. And the beaches were beautiful, and the waves were soothing, and everyone he loved was in one place close and warm and safe.

And Scott felt empty. He still felt empty.

The flapping of wings was a familiar sound, one he didn’t have to look around to find the source of. He’d been listening to Warren’s feathers since he was a teenager, and it was the kind of thing he recognized in an instant now. It was like the quiet snort Jean made when she laughed, the sharp intake of breath Bobby did just before saying something bound to make them all roll their eyes.

“Is it what you were expecting?” He asked when he heard Warren land behind him, voice only just loud enough to be heard over the waves. 

\\

If anyone were to memorize the sound of his wings flapping with the wind, it would definitely be Scott. They’ve been working together since they were teenagers — feeling like an entire lifetime ago by now. Warren sometimes can hardly believe how much they’ve all been through. So much tragedy but at least they have each other. It doesn’t get easier with each death even with the resurrections. He remembers his white feathers being covered in blood after the scene at the park while being in shock. Scott is one of his best friends so it’s no surprise in a Warren seeking him out to try convincing him to have some fun.

He has always done that, even when they were kids — inviting Scott out with him to try getting his friend involved. He never forced him to go along but it always made Warren smile at least knowing the other Mutant tried. Maybe he worries about him, all the responsibility always on his shoulders. Maybe it was no wonder he would team up with Bobby to try getting Scott to smile.

\

Emma shrugged. “We are still a very new land. Like every new company, most go under after a year. I think the humans think we will fall in line with that. Not that I blame them.” It would seem to be the way they would think. Probably thought there would be enough in house fighting for them to destroy what they had made. “Though, things are getting rather tense here. It just seems like no one can be really happy unless there is a wedding or a funeral.” She muttered with slight bitter. “How about it Worthington. Shall we get married or kill each other?”

\\

You can’t really expect anyone to be automatically happy just because they have Genosha now. It won’t shield any of their people from the rest of the world. Especially if they were expecting everything to go under sooner than later. The Humans would just love that, wouldn’t they? “It’s kind of morbid to be happy at a funeral, don’t you think?” He chuckles got a moment but then raises an eyebrow at the question.  “Marriage, of course. Imagine how powerful we’d be if we did.” What a force to be reckoned with.

\

“For some people fear is an aphrodisac.” Emma humored as she looked over at him, taking the martini that she had ordered telepathically before a drink was handed to Warren. “Being able to read minds saves me the trouble of you saying no.” She said in a slight teasing tone. “As am I, Warren. As am I.” She agreed as she raised her drink a little to say cheers to that. “If they know any better, they’d realise we have as much political power as Latveria and probably a better reputation.” She mused before looking over to Warren. “And those who do try shall learn the error of their ways.”

\\

Warren didn’t expect to have a drink handed to him but maybe one more wouldn’t hurt. He likes the time they spend together, so much gossiping done usually. He lifts the glass to his lips and takes a sip of it. Only laughing at Emma’s comment on reading minds. His mind isn’t the happiest place to be — Archangel doesn’t like telepaths poking inside Warren’s head. “If they weren’t aware of our political power before then I’d say they’re going to know now. I think we are easier to deal with than Latveria.” No question about that, the thought of dealing with Doom makes him cringe. Another sip of the drink after they comment though.

/

When he’d first gotten his wings, in the bright desert sun of Afghanistan, they’d come with rules. It was to be expected, of course — everything in the Air Force came with rules. There were rules about how to act, rules about how to stand, rules about who to love. And Sam wasn’t always good at following those rules, but he was good at pretending to. He was good at standing straight when there were eyes on him, good at keeping his snarky comments to himself until his superior officers were out of earshot, good at loving Riley in a way that didn’t let anyone else see anything deeper than friendship. But some rules? Some rules, Sam wanted to follow. 

Don’t go up alone. That was the first rule they’d gotten with the wings. There were two EXO-7 packs for a reason, after all. They were told to watch each other’s backs, commanded to keep each other safe, and they did. They would have done it anyway, of course, and maybe that was why they were chosen. Maybe their superiors had known without knowing that Sam and Riley would have died for each other, maybe they wanted to use it to their advantage. They told them not to go up alone, and Sam never would have wanted to anyway.

Until that RPG hit and he didn’t get much of a say.

There’d been something terrifying, back then, about being the only one in the air. For all that Sam had flown, he’d never flown alone, never been in the sky without Riley by his side. The sky felt so much emptier when you were the only one in it, so much more terrifying. Sam had always loved flying, but flying alone was rough. It took getting used to.

Of course, seeing someone unfamiliar in the skies after years of having them to himself was also jarring.

“I figured as much,” he quipped back, shrugging off the apology with a wave of his hand. If anyone got bad humor, it was Sam Wilson. “Falcon,” he replied. “Or Captain America. Or Sam. I answer to all three.” He shifted his position in the air, letting his pack keep him hovering almost lazily. “Not really from around here,” he admitted with a vague shrug. He’d grown up in Harlem, of course… just not this Harlem. “How about you?”

\\

Warren has always been fond of flying. There was no better feeling than getting away from his responsibilities to just be among the clouds. The first years of being at the school were thrilling, somewhere he didn’t have to hide. He remembers sneaking out in the middle of class —  not so much a secret though so maybe you shouldn’t refer to it as sneaking at all. Everyone saw him opening the windows and taking off. He felt his happiest out there, usually nobody to bother him except for some birds passing through.

Warren wouldn’t trade the feeling for anything. He regrets all that time spent binding them under his clothes. It did more harm than good back then by bending his limbs in such a confined way. Eventually enough is enough as he decided to live openly. If anyone had issues with his physical Mutation then that was their problem to sort out.

Flying is special but very little does Warren get to have company in the air. He craves it sometimes, anyone who could join him for a trip around the skies. There doesn’t even have to be a reason for it. This is a common bond that isn’t found easily but maybe he finally did if this all goes well.

Here was someone else, flying with ease. It doesn’t matter if someone’s wings were organic like his or machine like Sam’s. The awful joke something picked up from Bobby — his best friend always known for his sense of humor. Which not everyone finds funny, but it’s always something they needed to hear. Even if they didn’t realize it at the time.

“It’s nice to meet you, Sam. Also known as Falcon and Captain America.” His smile still on his face while his wings continue to flap to keep him hovering in place.  “I grew up in New York, except for the time my parents tried sending me to this boring boarding school in New Hampshire. Which didn’t last very long since my wings grew in while I was there.“

\

Emma made a small sound that could be considered a hysterical laugh for the ice queen as Warren spoke about their hearts. “I’d have to have one first.” She was infamous for seemingly cruel and ice cold. Unfeeling. However, it was because she felt too much. She had to protect herself in the end. “How are you holding up?” Emma asked the question rather casually though she knew Warren was perhaps going through his own inner turmoil. “Everything starts with a dream, darling.” Emma told him as she finally looked over to him. “Correctiong. You lot. I’ve only did Scott and things have been a little too busy for me to engage in such activities. That and no one is worthy.” She spoke as if it was just a simple troublesome condition. “Scared, Warren?”

\\

“I’m not scared, just not in the mood for the meeting we’re going to have. They’ll ask all their ridiculous questions.” Warren signs as he pinches his nose for a moment before dropping his hand to his side. “Ultimately, I’m alright. It’s all very new but I’m excited for what the future looks like for our people.” It was like they have something good to look forward to now. Genosha is promising after all. He knows that going between both New York and their island will raise a lot of questions for him though. His identity public and Mutant status well known.  “Besides I don’t want to give Humans the satisfaction of being scared by their words.” He doesn’t have issues with Humanity as a whole, just the bigots.

Cassie opened her eyes. Not on its own something of note, except that Cassie was pretty sure she’d died. She remembered Doom attacking her father, she remembered going after him, being thrown back and the pain. And then… Nothing. Until now. Except she wasn’t where she’d fallen, and there was no one around her fighting Doom. Nor was she in a hospital or her room, recovering from the fight.

She was still in NYC at least, that much she could recognise. But it felt… off somehow. Cassie scrambled to her feet and tried to orientate herself. A nearby newspaper stand told her why there seemed to be enough tension in the air to cut with a knife–a recent siege on Manhattan–but also something else more pressing. 

“2020? That’s impossible…” But Cassie knew better than to think anything was impossible. Still, she could feel herself beginning to grow a little, and she had to keep her emotions in check. 

“Excuse me!” she said to the closest passerby. “Could you tell me where Stark Tower is from here?” Tony would be able to help her. He’d know where her dad was too. Right?

\\

Stark Tower is somewhere Warren has visited before so he giving directions toward that direction is something that the Angel doesn’t mind doing. He wasn’t doing anything special anyway, just finished a flight around the city. Sometimes it just feels good stretching his wings after having to be mindful of them all day. Most structures and spaces aren’t decorated with those with wings in mind. He has learned to adapt but Worthington at least was renovated to allow him to extend his wingspan in his office if he wishes. This isn’t about that though, instead about helping out a stranger in need. Who seems rather lost but maybe an associate of Stark?

“You friends with Tony?” Warren asks for a moment while he takes a look around, blonde hair falling into his face as he got a feel for where the tower is from this spot. “It isn’t for from here actually if you want me to show you. I’m Warren, by the way. I can fly you there even if that’s something you’re okay with.”

\

Emma licked her lips in thought as he asked why didn’t she do it. She seemed to let silence answer the question for a moment as her eyes drifted over to the person she had enthralled into her command. However, after the long pause, she finally spoke. “I’d like to say my heroic heart compells me but in reality, deep down, I still think we are better than them. I will always choose cavier over a cheeseburger but by God would I devour that cheeseburger.” She told him, her icy eyes comparing to the homo sapien to the greasy takeout favourite. “Of course we will. We are X-Men darling. If we aren’t sleeping together and having children from another universe, then we continue to fight for the rights of our people.”

\\

Warren didn’t expect to receive an answer to that but doesn’t interrupt while listening to Emma talk about her view on it. “Our heroic hearts always holding us back, aren’t they?”  His tone is playful of course, never one to think about being anything other than one of the good guys. Archangel is the more vengeful, brutal one. Someone who won’t get the chance to come back out for some time now no matter how much the entity scratches away at his mind. “We are better, I can’t deny it. I still dream of a world where we can —“ His words cut off by a laugh slipping out of his lips because maybe the way Emma talks about them made him laugh. “We do sleep with each other quite a bit, don’t we?” He adjusts his posture a bit and lifts his wings. “Humans always try to go up against us which reminds me ... going to the office tomorrow is going to be interesting.”

\

“As flashy as that would be, I’d like to think we handle ourselves with much more integrity. After all, I could inflict the cruelest punishments that come to mind. Make him forget his entire family so when he goes home, he is confused and upset. I’d make it so he wouldn’t know how to breath the air he hates to share with mutants. I’d make him obsessed with the works of Barbara Walters. Sexually of course.” Emma listed off the things that she could do. That perhaps she would do. There was always that temptation there for her to take it that step further. Once you had a taste, it was hard not to go back. “However, peace remains and a bigot is not quiet and enjoying his backwashed flat drink. On the house.” She sighed as if she had committed some good deed or a very charitable act of kindness. “That is what we say don’t we. That they are not worth it. Doesn’t make it any less satisfying.”

\\

Warren makes a mental note never to piss off Emma but it wasn’t a surprise entirely. He was well aware of what telepaths could do and it always fascinated him. It might be invasive though to rework someone’s mind to what you want to have happen to them but maybe Warren just doesn’t understand what it meant to have such a power. “If you can do all of that to him then why didn’t you?” He would get his answer shortly after asking the question. “Peace does remain but you’re right. It would be satisfying even if they aren’t worth it. I’m sure we’ll still have plenty of chances for that though.”

\

Emma looked back to the previous target before shaking her head. “Yes, well, people go to extreme lengths when they feel so strongly about something.” She was perhaps one of them. She had extended the same hatred to homo sapiens as they did to her people. However, she had learned to tolerate them at least though she was still very distrustful of them. “Most of the X-Men are so primitive.” She rolled her eyes as he stated he would of just punched him. “The situation was handled with the least amount of disturbance and peace returns to Genosha just like that. Sometimes a surgeon’s scalpel is required. Not a hammer.”

\\

“I think sometimes going to such extremes is required.” Warren knows all about it considering he was an exact polar opposite of Archangel who just wants to see the world burn. He finds some amusement though in being called primitive. “I suppose I could just whack him with my wing instead of punching but he hardly seems worth ruining my feathers over.” He takes too much care when it comes to his wings but it‘s far better than any alternative. “Nobody like him is.”